Drive Generates More Than 500 Pounds of Food to Combat Food Insecurity

Just before the Thanksgiving break, Seton Hill delivered the results of its campus-wide food drive to the Westmoreland County Food Bank (WCFB) and the on-campus Griff’s Food Locker. Students in Human Resource Management courses, in cooperation with the Office of Student Experience's Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, conducted the month-long drive for non-perishable items with the SHU Society for HR Management (SHRM) Chapter helping to spread the word in classes. 

The drive was Seton Hill’s most successful to date – generating 546 pounds of food! The majority went to feed the nearly 18,000 individuals and families facing food insecurity throughout Westmoreland County, with 15% of that amount donated to Griff’s Food Locker on campus. The Food Locker provides grab-and-go items for students to take as they have the need.

The campus-wide donations included food from the Charley Brothers Shop & Save company. Furthermore, Seton Hill’s results generated an anonymous match donation of 1092 pounds of food that was delivered to the WCFB the same week! 

“Student managers and their student assistants did a collaborative, impactful job for this worthy cause,” said Professor of Business Catherine Giunta.

In conjunction with the drive, the 27th World Hunger Panel was held on campus October 19 with 100 attendees present for the two sessions including students in Human Resource Management (HRM), Introduction to Business, Theology and Communications classes.

Seton Hill faculty members including professors Karen Harouse-Bell, Catherine Giunta, and David Von Schlicten, along with the CEO of the WCFB, Jennifer Miller, and others, talked about topics such as local food insecurity, ethical aspects involving food insecurity, connection with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, sustainability and nutrition involving food insecurity, negative impacts for employees and their organizations, and how we can help eliminate food insecurity.